Nigeria@59: All is not well - Atiku Abubakar laments
- Atiku Abubakar says all is not well when Nigeria is now officially the world headquarters for extreme poverty
- In his message to Nigerians on the occasion of independence anniversary, he added that it is not all doom for Nigeria
- The PDP presidential candidate also urged Nigerians to work for betterment of the country
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, in his message ahead of the nation’s 59th independence anniversary, has lamented situations in the country.
According to him, Nigeria's founding fathers could never have fathomed that 59 years after independence, Nigeria would be facing a situation where there is no free press, and youths and activists face threat of arrest and intimidation.
"On October 1, 1960, our nation’s Founding Fathers could never have fathomed that 59 years after birthing the largest black nation on earth, we would be facing a situation where we do not have a free press, our judiciary being under attack, and our youths and activists, who should ordinarily be the future of Nigeria, would be facing the very real threat of arrest and intimidation should they speak out about the state of the nation," he said.
Going further, Atiku also urged Nigerians to take democratic action to ensure that the ideals of our founding fathers - Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress - are not set aside on the altar of tyranny.
"I could call for prayers, as others would indeed call for today. I could also call on Nigerians to show more understanding, as indeed many have said in the past and will undoubtedly say again today. But I am mindful of the fact that the time for rhetoric has long since passed and now is the time for all lovers of Nigeria to take concrete steps to aid Nigeria’s progress, by not just praying and showing understanding, but also to take democratic action to ensure that the ideals of our founding fathers - Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress - are not set aside on the altar of tyranny.
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"All is not well when judges are persecuted for enforcing the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights of Nigerian citizens. All is not well when Nigeria is now officially the world headquarters for extreme poverty and out of school children."
Atiku called on all Nigerians to believe in the betterment o the country and also work towards it. He urged the people to also insist that no one in Nigeria, no matter how highly placed, shall be bigger than the laws of the land.
"It is not all gloom and doom. There is still hope. Much hope," he added.
Meanwhile, recall that Legit.ng had reported that the activities for Nigeria's 59th Independence celebration would be low-key, findings from Legit.ng revealed.
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Source: Legit.ng
